By Charlie Bean
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
Prior to the matchup that would decide the 2025 TVL Small Championship, Medfield’s coaching staff emphasized a message about control. Given life’s unpredictability, they noted, not everything is controllable. The difference, according to the coaches, is that athletes are given the ability to control their fate and the outcome of a game. The undefeated Warriors had an opportunity to prove that on Thursday night.
A 41-yard rush by senior Brady McCormack on the first play set Medfield’s hopes on another week of domination. However, when Norton eventually forced a turnover on downs it was clear that the Warriors were in for a gritty battle.
On their next possession, Medfield methodically marched the ball downfield and Junior Owen Sokolowski’s well-executed 25-yard quarterback keep for a TD put the first points on the board. McCormack’s conversion added another two points.
After forcing a Lancer punt, Medfield’s next possession began on their own 11-yard line. On the next play, Norton recovered a Medfield fum
ble ten yards away from the endzone. The flexible and fierce Warrior defense refused to let Norton score and forced a turnover on downs.
After punts by both teams, McCormack broke the stalemate with a 79-yard touchdown rush that shifted momentum as halftime approached.
The Lancer’s came out swinging in the second half, taking only two plays to score a 56-yard touchdown. Medfield felt their momentum slipping, but refused to give in.
Recognizing the need to shift the tone, McCormack mixed his incredible field vision and speed with Medfield’s special teams cohesion, and blazed through traffic for a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown. Junior Owen Graber received a Sokolowski dart for two points.
Norton wanted to repeat their prior outcome, but the Warriors defense had no plans of allowing it. Medfield regained possession following a dropped Lancers shovel pass on fourth down.
On the next drive, Medfield’s backfield rattled off several rushes of 10+ yards and McCormack topped it off with a bruising 11-yard TD run. Sokolowski demonstrated his accuracy once again as he completed a two-point pass to senior Matteo Benson for a 30-6 lead.
Norton refused to back down and strung together a six-minute, 13-play, 81-yard touchdown drive of their own to cut Medfield’s lead to 18 points.
After forcing Medfield to punt, and needing three scores, the Lancers seemed to be in no rush as they slowly moved the ball downfield. With less than two minutes left, and the Norton offense 14 yards away from the endzone, Medfield’s coaches stressed the importance of preventing a score. Senior John O’Connell turned hope into reality, flew into the Norton backfield and forced a fumble. Fellow linebacker Owen Graber recovered it, ending the threat.
With the victory, Medfield secured a share of the TVL Small title, an undefeated regular season, and their first home playoff game since 2017.
Senior Joey Gemski led the team with 11 tackles followed by Graber with 8 tackles and his key fumble recovery.
Four Medfield players averaged over five yards per carry including McCormack, who rushed for 221 yards on 17 carries, and QB Owen Sokolowski with 51 yards on 6 carries.
The #4 seed Warriors will take on #13 seed Northeast Metro Regional in the first round of the MIAA Division Five Playoffs at Medfield High School’s home turf this Friday at 6pm.
